The Down Syndrome Convention

I remember going to the Down Syndrome Convention when William was probably less than a year old. We met up with our old hospital friends — Nathan and William had had open heart surgery at around the same time. It like a giant reunion. We all shared pieces of the same experience that involve raising someone unique.

Speaking the same culture

I live in Asia now, and it is rare that I see other Americans, everyone here speaks English, some wear western clothing, but it’s not the same as being in the good ole USA eating hamburgers, stepping off of even sidewalks, knowing that the cars will stop if a pedestrian steps in front of them, or simply understanding the language. Every once in a while, I long to be with my people — to speak the same culture.

A cool and comfortable secret

Going to the Down Syndrome Convention, meant entering our separate culture for a day. A culture where no one did a double-take when William spoke, walked, flapped his hands or simply was. It was a culture where we were not unique because we had a son with Down syndrome. We all just shared this incredibly cool and comfortable secret about living  life.

What is heterogeneity anyway?

I am probably breaking all the rules here by advocating that we be homogeneous every once in a while, but let’s be honest. There are times when it is just nice to settle in with your own kind. It’s like coming home to your family.  What is heterogeneity anyway? Who defines it? Can a culture be homogeneous if the sameness is that we are all human?